[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6078499,"mediaKeyId","2959501-ae8533baa66c59ac46e8fc5af093c72d","parentId",2959501,"title","Everett council approves Flock Safety drone-as-first-responder pilot, waives bidding","audioSeconds",2632,"startMs",1999000,"endMs",4631000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959501-ae8533baa66c59ac46e8fc5af093c72d&start=1999&end=4631","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959501-ae8533baa66c59ac46e8fc5af093c72d/thumbnail_1999000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6078499/Everett/Snohomish-County/Washington/Everett-council-approves-Flock-Safety-drone-as-first-responder-pilot-waives-bidding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078499-2975bd3ee5832db1aa8281dd550422fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775336617&Signature=oHkRB1Uqsm-I00lXXIU~uuabqxRWgD0fi-rx1abkIqF~xPnKskevoFM0NdWpK90JJS6D1eokMJF6cNaEYZP2hVZpn6W30tWA6XvFX5rPIrE02UYkzJrNrKRJG~pqQ2W~9F-3EHRXc4Cc1yT1WmrQHplQC8G-SRQbj8DfARRT18aA9SbjZ8qevyiLeNEUNJPlbrNCvcv6NDQfkqfB4Ft19t0eAyFpaOSpjTBaDrnsKEqFN05sGMDLMWOZXWc3jtmT~Z0clKzSfsBA8OmcxT9Uyye8HnBE4~DjvWI6ZUZ0xqeFlFiKcpZC71jQBaFcB2SznYDdkZ4Ml1Hyk0HQrL5BYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Everett City, WA","date","2025-04-10T15:26:07Z","article","The Everett City Council on April 9 approved a two‑year pilot program with Flock Safety to deploy drones as first responders (DFR) and waived public bidding for the purchase and services. Council approved both a resolution to waive bidding and a product addendum with Flock Safety after extended public briefing and council questions.

The pilot as described by city staff will deploy one drone initially at no cost in year one, add a second drone for a $50,000 charge in that first year to achieve citywide coverage, and carry recurring operating costs thereafter (staff estimated about $307,000 per drone per year for a configuration that includes radar; some contract materials in the packet list a $507,000 line for a 24‑month period). A radar system is required for full operations in the southern portion of Everett because of airport proximity; staff said the radar raises the unit cost for that dock.

City staff told the council the program includes an opt‑out provision after the first year, public reporting, and technical and privacy safeguards. Staff said drones typically arrive on scene much faster than ground units — historical DFR programs show average drone arrival times near 90 seconds, versus the Everett 2024 average of about 4 minutes for priority‑one calls — and that other jurisdictions reported up to a roughly 20% reduction in patrol‑car responses for some call types when a drone could be first on scene.

Council members pressed staff on costs, data retention, public access and civil‑liberties protections. Staff said non‑evidentiary footage will be handled like non‑evidentiary body‑worn camera video and deleted consistent with state law; they told council that except for evidentiary material tied to investigations, license‑plate and other data are hard‑deleted after 30 days per the terms discussed in prior briefings. Staff also said the program will not use facial recognition, will not be used for routine patrols or proactive surveillance, and will be deployed only in response to 911 calls or officer requests.

Staff described operational details: a pilot “nest” and computer displays will be set up (initially in the South Precinct); pilots will be trained in‑house with existing FAA‑qualified trainers; collision‑avoidance radar will be part of the system because of the city’s proximity to an airport; and the vendor’s equipment will include automated safety features that can override a pilot to prevent incursions. The city plans a public dashboard that will publish flight paths (not video), call types and basic counts after each flight and to maintain a dedicated email address for community questions (epd_uas@eppartwa.gov).

Councilmember questions led staff to list measurable metrics they plan to track during the trial: response times, instances where a drone was first on scene, number of incidents where an officer response was canceled because the drone resolved or cleared the call, use in fire and marine rescue support, and indicators tied to officer safety and use‑of‑force events. Staff said they will compare year‑2 to year‑1 results and that the contract allows the city to opt out at the end of the first year if objectives are not met.

The council voted to approve the resolution and the product addendum. Votes recorded in the minutes show a majority approval with one council member voting no on each item. Staff said initial flights are projected to begin in late June, ahead of July 4 weekend deployment priorities.

The contracts and the public‑facing policy update will be posted online when finalized; staff said they will publish the draft DFR policy for public review as soon as the remaining deployment details are inserted.

Ending: The pilot creates a new data point for the city’s emergency response toolbox and will be evaluated against stated operational, privacy and fiscal metrics before any long‑term commitment is made.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Everett City Council Meeting: April 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Everett City Council on April 9 approved a two‑year Flock Safety drone‑as‑first‑responder pilot and waived bidding for the purchase, authorizing a product addendum that city staff said will provide citywide coverage if a second drone and radar are added.","taxTitle","Everett, Snohomish County, Washington","taxId",2974,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078488,"Residents raise construction noise and question city attorney role in initiative challenge; organizers plan Broadway rally",378,185000,563000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959501-ae8533baa66c59ac46e8fc5af093c72d&start=185&end=563","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959501-ae8533baa66c59ac46e8fc5af093c72d/thumbnail_185000.jpg","/articles/6078488/Everett/Snohomish-County/Washington/Residents-raise-construction-noise-and-question-city-attorney-role-in-initiative-challenge-organizers-plan-Broadway-rally","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078488-1c5ad2f595563a12e2463774186b0676/orig.mp4?Expires=1775336617&Signature=NLPBEgt7KQChRfdqrUhoMvhmlVcsnFrXJuSjCdli0waneDXI8Tey71E7Ndce85ZZTwFXJFHmYVsbumQ8fkhAFMFFCw7OHIqFDLuJiW55wJGKmatI68Lne6mad7I0MFubdd19BdKZNNTq4Ij63UH80Lj3tObXSUvZwV02d3tOEtk-7ZEY26ip4JrITeiI3JAQ29BZh2TzQaCyk2YJUQCOReR0kjW5v-7kHYh2qD0FrDEBF6ULuZUcBg261Mk8UO03gekte9AIFW-qEq8RWjEeSaRFR1umahMShsTSzJwlY9DYhOk1ZKbQ19Er71R58-1VeKA~ex3qiAD6q23tdPcL1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public comments at the Everett City Council meeting on April 9 included a noise complaint from a downtown resident, a concern about the city attorney’s presence in circuit court proceedings challenging a citizens’ initiative, and an announcement of a large planned rally on Broadway by Snohomish County Indivisible.

Timothy Chipman of Everett (Port Gardner area, District 2) told the council he has been woken by early‑morning jackhammering and dump trucks tied to work at the New Compass facility on Bridal and said the activity had disrupted his sleep and daily life. Councilmember Ryan responded during council comments that city staff expect Compass construction to wrap in May and offered to help with small accommodations such as rubber door stoppers if portable toilets are moved back toward residences.

Annie Lyman said she recently returned to Everett, praised the city’s updated accessory dwelling unit permitting and inspection process, and then said she attended a hearing in Judge Alexander’s court where master builders challenged a citizens’ initiative approved in November. Lyman said she was surprised the city attorney appeared at the hearing alongside representatives of the Port of Everett and asked for an explanation. City Attorney Jennifer Covertz said the city’s appearance was not to advocate for the Port, but to ask the court to decide procedural standing so the merits could be addressed; Covertz said the city did not take a position on the merits and was focused on ensuring the court could rule on the validity of the initiative.

Paula Townsville, identifying herself as a co‑lead and event coordinator for Snohomish County Indivisible, told the council the organization coordinated what she called the largest political rally in the city and county (she estimated attendance “conservatively” at more than 3,500 people) and announced another planned mobilization along Broadway. Townsville said she submitted a permit application and that the event will be family friendly, include sign‑waving and a food drive, and span Broadway from 700 North Broadway to 40 First Street.

Ending: The council thanked speakers and noted follow‑up from city staff: construction complaints were being processed as code enforcement inquiries, and the city attorney's office said it would explain its procedural appearance in the court proceeding during attorney comments.","Public commenters at the Everett City Council urged relief from early‑morning construction noise near the New Compass site, praised the ADU permitting process while questioning the city attorney’s involvement in a court challenge to a citizens’ initiative, and announced a large Snohomish County Indivisible rally along Broadway.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":46,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078494,"Council tables $600,000 stadium‑related budget item after transparency concerns",1649,6280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959501-ae8533baa66c59ac46e8fc5af093c72d&start=4631&end=6280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959501-ae8533baa66c59ac46e8fc5af093c72d/thumbnail_4631000.jpg","/articles/6078494/Everett/Snohomish-County/Washington/Council-tables-600000-stadiumrelated-budget-item-after-transparency-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078494-a252a64766759ca9b18c29358a1117ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1775336617&Signature=cC3nXMnp4p4uLq9in0V-oVZUNVis--7yiuRvaJEgyMWyI8~gUZNJUdMeVkwVfqH5yeSDolfr0I5yVJyFhIk9kVpezY1zz3NBUHrEysaL~ukOlvIijvmJ~MqTzvQu3a1~01eZCX2nkYlocGd9RZwVmVxYw8WeQPn2oPlE5GdsEISemLrYvZ9CJHF-fq8aq3rPVycY10NSam7h85yvQ3PLJuZ9aNUjAOpLZuzj9qo9JkQPIidRE59Be8C~cjxwtZCO61U9RKGRHvMkiaesy5aDhOyV9PEfzPJ6pA6RNPIE~PgGPK2hWxrHbrbgMhIqDtT-NjzZ-Z3Bw94dYYgeo38XRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Everett City Council debated and then tabled (postponed) a $600,000 component of a 2025 budget amendment that would fund consultants and legal work connected to a proposed outdoor multi‑purpose facility. Council discussion centered on transparency and public notice before committing the consultant and legal funds.

Administration described the $600,000 as a due‑diligence package to support lease negotiations, property appraisals and relocation analysis tied to the stadium effort. The slide staff presented broke the $600,000 into line items: $45,000 for PFM financial advisory work; $75,000 for an initial relocation analysis by Kimley‑Horn; $120,000 estimated for appraisals of about 14–22 properties; and $180,000 for work by the Stafford Group to validate lease, operations and revenue assumptions, with about $180,000 remaining for legal fees associated with lease and property work.

Council members asked about timing and next steps. Staff said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with prospective stadium proponents was in outside counsel review, that the MOU was expected to move to the teams early the following week, and that a fuller revenue, cost and financing package will accompany later phases. Staff and outside counsel said bond counsel fees for any future bond issuance are not included in the $600,000 because bond‑issuance legal fees are paid from bond proceeds.

Several council members said they supported moving forward with planning, but several others objected to adding the $600,000 within the budget amendment without separate public notice; one council member asked that the $600,000 be removed from this amendment and placed on a separate agenda item so the community could review it. The council voted to table the agenda item including the $600,000 portion pending additional public briefing.

Ending: Administration told the council it can reintroduce the funding line with clearer public notice or include the item on next week’s agenda for an extended briefing; staff flagged two major program decision points later in the year (progress to 30% design and the final funding/lease package) where the council will have further off‑ramp decisions.","Council members debated adding $600,000 for consultants and legal fees tied to the multi‑purpose stadium to a broader 2025 budget amendment. Some council members said the stadium line had not been adequately noticed for public review; after discussion the council voted to table that portion of the amendment for further public briefing.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078497,"Council authorizes $253,900 federal Project Safe Neighborhoods grant for related equipment and services",246,1691000,1937000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959501-ae8533baa66c59ac46e8fc5af093c72d&start=1691&end=1937","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959501-ae8533baa66c59ac46e8fc5af093c72d/thumbnail_1691000.jpg","/articles/6078497/Everett/Snohomish-County/Washington/Council-authorizes-253900-federal-Project-Safe-Neighborhoods-grant-for-related-equipment-and-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078497-ccb751a16934eb5b606a47877f418dc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775336617&Signature=h~1teSQWeOlcLlDZvgCrdLP~ik4AarC8urge3ueiO0Bc1xeHibHqU2yIcpaLJreC1u9Y6GiTqGQ0MW0-amNg~V4iFVHwSSoPtvX0SdaVltMVKsnW2VbRZKgg2BUTkKyW-OXB5gHKW-vsZsA8cVuVJSkIETj3ZDTJS~WbosVTgPmY96s6TuiVZ7vOq6IvT2ilnjZl7rdqS4jSMDipvJDbm4wgfKxHr~1XVFZkuZQX5jaae8ecAkWsq8aSnXZpB26mv9rQQu~liXL~KKsinFeTxSZXHjqaHmhsgCLC3bB78zOa7fjMDfSrZxuGi30-usBVugJOErA8Eh9q~g89hzBvgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Everett City Council on April 9 authorized the mayor to accept and use $253,900 in Project Safe Neighborhoods formula grant funds administered through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Council approved the authorization on a roll call vote.

Council discussion focused on a standard monitoring and audit clause in the grant contract and what auditors would be able to inspect. Councilmember questions cited contract paragraph 16, which gives WASPC, the state auditor, the U.S. Department of Justice or their representatives access to contractor records related to the grant for an audit period extending three years after final reconciliation.

City staff said the language is common in federal grants and is intended to allow auditing of financial and procurement records. Staff also addressed data‑retention concerns tied to license‑plate recognition (LPR) technology operated under the program, saying that, except for evidentiary material associated with investigations, collected information is hard‑deleted after 30 days under current practice.

The clerk recorded the vote in favor of the authorization. The grant acceptance will allow the city to participate in Project Safe Neighborhoods activities funded by the DOJ formula grant routed via WASPC.

Ending: City staff said they will comply with standard federal grant record‑keeping and audit requirements and that technical questions about data handling will be enforced through the city’s records and evidence practices.","The council authorized acceptance of a $253,900 Project Safe Neighborhoods formula grant routed through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), and discussed an audit/monitoring clause and data‑retention practices for information collected under the program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Everett council approves Flock Safety drone-as-first-responder pilot, waives bidding

Residents raise construction noise and question city attorney role in initiative challenge; organizers plan Broadway rally

Council tables $600,000 stadium‑related budget item after transparency concerns

Council authorizes $253,900 federal Project Safe Neighborhoods grant for related equipment and services